Dundee Airport passenger numbers have dropped by more than 40% after the Dundee to Amsterdam route was cancelled.

The number of passengers in 2017 was 22,273 which is a 16,029 drop on the previous year.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) say the drop in visitors is due to the Flybe Amsterdam service being withdrawn by the operator in December 2016.

Despite the drop in usage, managing director Inglis Lyon says that Dundee remains an "integral part" of its airport network.

He said: "Flybe's decision to withdraw the Dundee/Amsterdam service for now was always going to have an effect on the 2017 passenger figures and our airport manager and the HIAL team are working hard with our various partners in the city to bring new routes and services to the airport.

"The scheduled September opening of the V&A will have a really positive effect on Dundee and the wider Tayside area, and that in itself will significantly boost our efforts to promote the airport and the area to the business and tourism market.

"Passenger numbers will always fluctuate at regional airports and with the many positive developments going on in Dundee, we are confident we will be able to attract new business there over the coming months."